Reds sign Portuguese forward

Adelaide United have filled their player roster for season 2012/13 with the signing of Portuguese forward Fabio Ferreira on a one-year deal.

Adelaide United have filled their player roster for season 2012/13 with the signing of Portuguese forward Fabio Ferreira on a one-year deal.

A product of English Premier League giants Chelsea-s youth set-up, Ferreira had been living in Sydney since the start of this year and playing with NSW Super League club Dulwich.

United coach John Kosmina invited Ferreira to trial with the Reds a month ago and believes the 23-year-old possesses the quality to make an impression in the Hyundai A-League.

During his time at Chelsea, Ferreira represented Portugal twice at U19 level before he was loaned out to League One side Oldham Athletic.

Much of the hype may surround United-s other new foreigners Marcelo Carrusca and Jeronimo Morales Neumann, but Kosmina says Ferreira will also be one to watch.

“He is quite happy and another one I think is going to be a real surprise packet,” Kosmina said.

“Everyone talks about Marcelo or Jeronimo or Dario (Vidosic) or Serge (van Dijk) or somebody else, but Fabio has got a really good pedigree.

"You don-t get signed to Chelsea for four years by Jose Mourinho unless you-ve got something about you, and he did enough to show that he has got what it takes and now it-s just a matter of getting back up to where he was.”

“He offers us a real point of difference in that he-s a natural wide player and we don-t have a lot of natural width.

"So someone who can play as a natural winger and is a good dribbler with pace, they-re hard to find these days, so I think Fabs is going to have a bit of fun as well.”

“We-ve got quality but this is a bit of extra quality.”

Ferreira will not take part in the club's upcoming AFC Champions League knockout stage games but says he's ready to make the most of his chance when it arises.

“It-s a very good opportunity for me and I look forward to this season. I-ll just do my best and see how it goes,” Ferreira said.

“I came to Sydney to try and get my career on track again at a high level and now I-ve got my chance at Adelaide, I-ll try to do my best, that-s the first thing, and I hope the fans like what they see. I just want to do the best I can do.”